Venetian blind



June 30, 1953 s. F. MAYER 2,643,713

VENETIAN BLIND Filed-Aug. 1, 195o 2 sheets-sheet. 1

ug W

IN VENT OR .s/EGFR/o EMA YER,

ATTORNEYS S. F. MAYER VENETIAN BLIND June 30, 1953 2 SheetspSheet 2 Filed Aug. I L, 1950 INVENTOR SIEGF/P/EO E/VHYER,

ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1953 VENETIAN BLIND Siegfried F. Mayer, Lock Haven, Pa., assignor to May-Sloan, Inc., Lock Haven, Pa., a corporation oi' Pennsylvania Application August 1, 1950, Serial No. 177,112

(Cl. 1GO-178) y 4 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds, and more particularly to an improved base bar or bottom slat for Venetian blinds, and aims generally to improve existing structures of this type.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a base `bar for Venetian blinds which is simple and economical in Iconstruction and which is formed of relatively heavy material, such as metal, for stabilizing the blind and maintaining the tapes thereof under tension when the blind is in a down position and which also assists in the raising and lowering steps.

Another object of the invention is the elimination of the usual wooden stabilizing and similar type base bar or slat and the substitution thereof for a hollow tubular steel or like metallic bar made up of complemental interfitting half sections releasably held together.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a base bar for Venetian blinds providing an improved construction for the releasable attachment of runner tapes and elevating cords thereto.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a base bar for Venetian blinds and the like made up of complemental sections which may be readily assembled in gripping relation Withthe runner tapes and disassembled, as desired, for shortening or lengthening the blind without the use of special tools or other equipment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a Venetian blind construction having an improved form of means for holding the tapes in position.

In the drawingsv Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a Venetian blind embodying the invention;

Fig 2 is an exploded perspective view of the base bar;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the base bar taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the manner of clamping the tapes;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the base bar taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the base bar partially assembled;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a portion of a modied form of base bar;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the base bar shown in Fig. 6-; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a Venetian blind I0' hav- 2 ing a base bar II suspended from a header (not shown) by means of elevating cords I2. Fabric runner tapes I3 suspended from the header are disposed on opposite sides of the base bar I I, and connected thereto in a novel manner as will be more apparent hereinafter.

The tapes I3 are disposed on opposite sides of the elevating cords I2 and are preferably of the ladder type, being interconnected by means of a plurality of vertically spaced Slat-supporting cross-tapes or webs I4 of textile material, secured by stitching or the like to the inner faces of the tapes I3. The :cross tapes I4 are of less width than the tapes I3; and at least some of them are secured to the tapes I3 adjacent the outer edges thereof, so as to be disposed outwardly of the elevating cords I2. This insures proper alignment of the tapes and slats relative to the elevating cords I2.

The slats I5 of the blind are preferably formed of the usual metal Venetian blind slats, being of a length approximately equal to the base bar I I,

and either of flat or slightly convexed cross-sec- V tion, as desired. Such metal slats are conveniently formed of sheet metal of approximately 0.01 inch in thickness and are highly flexible both longitudinally and transversely.

The slots I5 rest loosely on the cross-tapes I4 and at the ends thereof are provided with T- shaped slots I6 for receiving the elevating cords I2. This provides for easy mounting and dismounting of the slats for ready replacement, cleaning or repair.

The base bar II comprises a pair of opposed -complemental sections secured together to form a hollow relatively flat tubular member. Itis preferably formed of sheet metal of a thickness to give the desired strength and having sufficient weight to insure that the Venetian blind hangs evenly.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the complemental sections II and I8 are bent transversely of the length thereof to form oppositely disposed convexly curved portions I9 and 20 having inwardly extending flanges 2I 22, 23 and 24 at the side edges thereof adapted for intertting engagement. The radius of `curvature of the sections is desirably relatively large so that when assembled with the flanges 2I-24 in intertting engagement a relatively flat oval-shaped hollow tubular member will be formed. Such curvature may be the same for both sections or alternatively, as illustrated, the radius of curvature of the upper section Il may be somewhat greater than that of the lower section IB so that the surface thereof is correspondingly somewhat flatter.

The sections Il and I8 are held together in assembled relation by end caps 2l and 28 having base portions 29 and 30 provided with flanges 3I and 32 extending outwardly substantially at right angles from the peripheral edges thereof. The flanges 3I and 32 are shaped'to t over and closely embrace the ends of the tubular base bar II and are preferably of a size slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of such ends so that they may readily be forced thereover when the tapes are clamped between the rcomplemental sections as hereinafter described.

The end caps 2l and 2B are resiliently held in position on the ends of the base bar II by bowing or otherwise permanently bending one or both of the complemental sections I'I and I8, so that when fitted together the ends thereof tend to move apart by virtue of such permanent set or bend and the resiliency of the metal. In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. lboth of the sections I'I and I8 have a permanent set inwardly intermediate the ends thereof so that when fitted together with the intermediate portions in engagement the ends are normally spaced apart in the absence of some restraining means. The end caps may readily be mounted over the normally spaced-apart ends of the sections when they are forced together. When released, the ends of the sections will tensionally engage the flanges of the end caps thereby holding them securely in position.

In accordance with the invention, the tapes I3 and Ill are secured to the base bar II by clamping the end portions thereof between the ends of the sections Il and I8. As hereinabove indicated, the end caps are designed to accommodate the slight increase in size of the ends of the sections occasioned by the thickness of the tapes clamped therebetween, but have a sufficiently snug t therewith to insure that the tapes are securely and tightly clamped.

The elevating cords are secured to the base bar II by passing them through openings 33 and 34 in the top section Il thereof and then knotting the ends thereof as shown at 35 prior to aS- sembly of the parts. Such knots are disposed between the sections Il and I8 and hence are not visible when the base bar is assembled.

In assembling the base bar Il with the blind I 0 the elevating cords are first secured to the upper section Il in the manner above described. The sections Il' and I8 are then tted together with the ends of the tapes properly positioned.

between the flanges 2I-24 thereof, the ends of the sections then forced together in any suitable manner and the caps placed thereon. The caps hold the sections together with the tapes securely clamped therebetween and the caps in turn are securely held in mounted position by virtue of the inwardly bowed or bent construction of the sections and the resiliency of the metal which cause the ends of the sections to tensionally engage the flanges of the caps.

The base bar Il may readily be disassembled merely by removing the end caps. This permits ready access to the ends of the elevating cords and tapes so that they may easily be shortened, lengthened or otherwise changed as desired.

In Figs. 6-8 I have shown a modified form of base bar 36 comprising a pair of opposed elongated plates 3'! and 38 angularly bent inwardly toward each other intermediate the side edges thereof and assembled together to form a hollow 4 tubular member which is substantially trapezoidal in cross-sectional shape. The plates 3l and 38 are preferably bent adjacent opposite side edges thereof to an angle somewhat less than degrees to form opposed longer leg portions 39 and 40 and opposed shorter leg portions 4I and 42. Variations in the extent and line of bend may, however, be varied.

In this form of the invention the opposed sections 37 and 38 are releasably held together with the edges of the shorter leg portions 4I and 42 disposed against the adjacent faces of the longer leg portions 39 and 40 inwardly of the side edges thereof. Bolts 43 and nuts 44 or similar attaching means may be used to secure the sections together.

The ends of the tapes are clamped between the edges of the shorter leg portions and the adjacent faces of the longer leg portions and are securely held therebetween by the attaching bolts 43 and nuts-44. The elevating cords are secured to the upper sections 3l by passing them through openings 45 therein and then knotting them as shown at 46.

This embodiment of the invention is likewise formed of sheet metal and is sufliciently heavy to insure that the blind hangs evenly. Ready assembly and disassembly of the plates 31 and 38 is possible merely by removing the attaching means 43 and 44 thereby permitting access to the ends of the tapes and elevating cords to lengthen or shorten the blind.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved construction of Venetian blind wherein the base bar is formed of compleental sections releasably held together anddesigned to clamp the ends of the tapes therebetween. Such bars may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, thus permitting access to the tapes and elevating cords to lengthen or shorten them. When formed of a relatively heavy material such as sheet metal, the bars have suicient weight to cause them to hang evenly and straight.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of the invention, I do not intend to be limited thereby as the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 8,205, now U. S. Patent 2,523,038.

Iclaim:

l. A base bar for Venetian blinds comprising a pair of transversely rounded complemental seotions adapted for intertting engagement to form a tubular member, one of said sections being formed of a resilient material and in its free condition being bowed along its length, and removable cap means adapted to engage the ends of the sections to bow the one section in an vopposite direction to tensionally hold said sections in assembled relation.

2. In a Venetian blind a base bar comprising a pair of transversely bent elongated plate members adapted to be assembled in intertting engagement to form a tubular member, a plurality of tapes clamped between said plates adjacent the ends thereof, one of said members being resilient and normally bowed inwardly along its length, and restraining means acting on the ends of the plate members for holding said members together in clamping relation to said tapes.

3. In a Venetian blind a tubular-like slat member comprising a pair of complemental transversely curved sections, at least one of said sections being normally bowed inwardly along the length thereof, a plurality of tapes on opposite sides of said slat member and having the ends thereof positioned between said sections, cap members fitted over the ends of said tubular member for holding the sections in clamping engagement with said tapes and longitudinally' bending said one section whereby the ends of the sections are tensionally clamped against the restraining action of said cap members. l

4. A Venetian blind comprising a hollow tubular base bar formed of a pair of intertting oomplemental resilient sections, a plurality of tapes positioned between said plate members intermediate the ends thereof, each of said sections being bowed along its length inwardly intermediate the ends thereof whereby said ends are in spaced apart relation when intertted in unrestrained assembly, and means securing the ends of said sections together in clamping engagement with said tapes ingopposition to thev tendency thereof to separate.

- f SIEGFRIED F. MAYER.

`Referenees Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date 120,538 Roelofs Oct. 31, 1871 316,771 Gerdom Apr. 28, 1885 2,402,894 Jablin June 25, 1946 2,508,742 Bell May 23, 1950 2,529,229

Sherwood Nov. 7, 1950 

